In the center of Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, two minibuses belonging to the organization Action for Citizenship arrive with meals. Dozens wait in a long line as volunteers prepare to unload. A volunteer, Simone Loreto, reminds the crowd that each person will receive only one portion. If family or friends cannot be present, they will not be given additional rations. The scene captures a stark reality: relief is immediate, but scarce, and access depends on daily presence and organization policy.
Among the first to receive a report card from the aid program is Thalia, a trans woman who has frequented this neighborhood weekly for more than a year. She explains that she left an abusive home situation and now survives on the street with monthly support that covers only a portion of her needs. She receives about 600 reais per month through national assistance programs, which is not enough to live on. She says the support helps, but without these organizations, daily meals would be far harder to come by. Thalia and others like her represent a highly vulnerable segment of the population facing social stigma and limited access to stable housing and income.
Within minutes, volunteers have handed out a portion to roughly 100 people and are preparing more for the day. One worker notes the ongoing demand and the persistent struggle to meet the need. About 30 people leave the queue before getting food as the charity’s staff report a troubling rise in homelessness since the pandemic hit Brazil, a crisis that pushed many into informal work and exposed gaps in social protection.
More than 30 million hungry
Hunger has become a central topic in national debates, especially during electoral campaigns. Data from the PENSSAN Network, which aggregates several non-governmental groups, put Brazil’s hungry population at about 33 million. This statistic comes amid political discussions about past statements on hunger and ongoing debates about how to restore social protections that have eroded in recent years. The situation persists as food insecurity remains a defining issue for many households across the country.
Rodrigo Kiko Afonso, managing director of Action for Citizenship, emphasizes that Brazil once served as a global example in hunger alleviation. He recalls that by 2014, delegations visited to learn which policies lifted people out of extreme poverty. He attributes shifts in policy to later years, noting investment in agribusiness at the expense of small producers and resulting price pressures on food. These changes contribute to the daily reality of hunger for many families, according to Afonso.
Policy changes have left millions in poverty, with programs like Brazilian Aid weakening or freezing and wage updates lagging behind inflation. Critics argue that the reduction of outreach and social support centers has limited access to available aid. Afonso frames hunger as a political choice: when public investment in food security and income support for the poorest is cut, hunger becomes a consequence widely seen in communities across the country.
Thousands of servings daily
In the organization’s kitchen, twenty workers prepare today’s menu: chicken legs, rice, black beans, potatoes, and fruit. A concerted effort will produce around 1,000 servings for lunch and dinner shifts. The operation has continued for over a year, coordinated with many social groups within the city and municipal authorities. The kitchen chief notes that most beneficiaries rely on a single daily meal, making nutritious, substantial cooking essential. The team acknowledges that demand often outpaces supply but remains committed to the mission.
The team reflects on the broader consequences of governance on hunger. They lament the direction of public policy and emphasize the country’s role as a major food exporter alongside a vulnerable population that cannot eat reliably. The absence of consistent public investment and policy action is seen as a driver of persistent hunger, prompting questions about who will step in when government action falters.